Sugar noodles (Makaron z cukrem)

Yes, this is a communist dessert. I first saw this recipe on East Germany museum’s restaurant’s menu, and my then-dining companion recognized it from his childhood. When candy and chocolate was scarce, it made an easy dessert for kids, in a pinch.

For my birthday, I asked him to make it for me, as I love noodles— and I was very curious about this. It’s very simple: noodles, sugar, butter. Delicious, whether you have money for other treats or no.

And it’s interesting: if you Google “Sugar noodles” in English, you get a lot of people worrying about the carbs in pasta. But Google it in Polish or German (makaron z cukrem, or Spirelli mit Zucker) and you get recipes in Polish or German.

If you’re wondering about the stuffed animal next to the plate: that’s Krtek, my latest favorite cartoon. He’s an adorable Czech cartoon, which grew popular behind in the former Soviet Bloc. And now, like Germany’s amplemann, he’s got himself a good agent and you can buy plush versions of him. (I am seriously considering getting a Region 2 DVD player, so I can easily watch the cartoons!)

A few hints on the recipe: don’t try and use rice noodles (they stick together too much.) I used a pasta like spaghetti, but only because that’s how my ex-dining companion remembered them.

Also, I think this would be a great dish with some fruit: slices of apple, or a good ripe pear. But I first wanted to make it the traditional way.

Ingredients.

Ingredients:

-fistful of spaghetti (or other pasta of your choosing)

-2 tablespoons butter (if vegan, use Earth Balance)

-3 tablespoons sugar (to taste)

1. Cook the noodles according to package directions. Drain well, and toss with a bit of butter.

2. Heat the butter in pan.

3. Add sugar to the butter, and let it brown.

4. Add the pasta to the pan, and coat the pasta with the sugar and butter mix.

5. Saute the noodles in the sugary pasta, tossing the noodles occasionally. The trick is to keep sprinkling sugar on the noodles, and to let them get just a little bit crispy.

I’ve always been very dubious of pasta or noodle desserts, simply because it hasn’t been a part of my culture (noodle kugel was so reviled in my family that it was forbidden in the house) but now that lack of experience has made me curious… It’s such a simple concept, it would be silly not to try it once!